Galway WFC face champions in cup debut

Race for possession: Galway WFC's Sinead Taylor and Castlebar Celtic's Aileen Gilroy in the Bus Eireann League game at Eamonn Deacy Park on Sunday.
Photo:-Mike Shaughnessy

Galway WFC take a break from league action to make their debut in the Bus Eireann WNL Cup on Sunday.

Galway, drawn in a group that includes title holders Raheny, Castlebar Celtic and Shamrock Rovers, will host the current league champions from Dublin in their opener at Eamonn Deacy Park on Sunday at 2pm.

With the top two teams progressing to the semi-finals, Galway is looking forward to another new challenge in this first season in the competition.

The defending champions will present another big challenge for Galway, but manager Nigel Keady says it is one the team is excited about.

“We’ve played them twice so far and they’ve beaten us twice, but we are getting closer to them and were very disappointed to lose to them a few weeks ago. We are really looking forward to this Sunday.”

Another bumper crowd is expected for the game and the Galway women will be hoping the weather is kinder than it was last weekend when they faced up to local rivals Castlebar Celtic.

The game finished 1 - 0, which Keady said was a “fair result” in the end.

“Conditions were not brilliant, but in the first half we could have had two or three goals, so it was a bit disappointing in the end.

“ It was not the best performance going forward, but we will take the positives.”

Galway came out of the blocks on fire and carved two great chances in the first 90 seconds which were forced out for corners. It was no surprise when Galway took the lead on 13 minutes after a Méabh De Búrca cross was turned into her own net by Katie Walsh. Despite having numerous other chances the scores remained the same at half time.

The second half saw a transformation in Castlebar who put Galway under pressure without creating too many clear-cut chances. However in the end Emma Mullin popped up for the visitors to grab an equaliser in the dying minutes of the game.

Now Galway face the best team in the league again, but Keady says they are a match for most teams.

“When they play to their capabilities, they are a match for most teams in the league. It is to do it more on a regular basis. They need to do the right things more often than the wrong things, but we are learning.”

Sunday’s game kicks off at 2pm. Admission is €5 for adults and free for children.